Chase Viebrock Closes Out TSCS Season With Kouba Memorial Win At SCVR
After suffering three straight rain outs and not having raced since August 15, the UMSS Traditional Sprint Car Series finally was able to complete their portion of the Kouba Memorial event with the running of the 22nd Annual Earl Kouba Memorial at the St. Croix Valley Raceway on Friday night September 5. Wrapping up the GRP Motorsports Rookie of the Year title a few weeks earlier, Chase Viebrock of New Richmond led all 25 laps in the feature race to record his third TSCS victory in his rookie season behind the wheel of a sprint car. Viebrock pulled into the Anderson’s Pure Maple Syrup Victory Lane to close out the 2014 TSCS racing season and complete the Kouba Memorial three weeks after Mike Mueller had won the Ethel Kouba Memorial portion at the Princeton Speedway. Cam Schafer was officially crowned the 2014 TSCS Champion, although with three rain outs in a row, Schafer came into the final night of the season knowing that he had clinched the title over two-time and defending series champion Rob Caho, Jr.
A field of sixteen non-winged TSCS sprints signed into the pits for their final race of the season, as the skies cleared and no rain was anywhere in sight. For the TSCS portion of the show, two 10-lap heat races were run using the normal passing and finishing point format. Schafer and Jake Kouba topped the heats. Second generation driver Jake Kouba was the high point driver, but Jake drew the “8” pill for the feature race invert. This put a pair of rookie racers on the front row for their 25 lap Earl Kouba Memorial feature. Jori Hughes and Viebrock would bring the field to the green flag.
Viebrock blasted into the lead running up on the cushion with Mike Mueller and Schafer falling into line behind him. The race was under the first of two cautions when Adam Taubert lopped his car in turn two with two laps scored. The top three continued to run in that order when the green flag replaced the yellow, as Schafer tried unsuccessfully on several occasions to duck under Mueller for second. The final yellow waved when Josh Hendrickson stopped in turn 4 with a flat tire and Jon Lewerer drove to the infield with a flat tire as well with 14 laps in the books. The final 11 laps ran green to the checkers with no change up front. Viebrock defeated Mueller and Schafer. Jake Kouba and Caho completed the top five. Rounding out the top ten finishers were Jimmy Kouba, Mike Walters, Hughes, Brian VanMeveren and Joseph Kouba.
A quick glance back at the TSCS season saw Schafer win seven features, Caho picked up five wins, Mueller raced to four victories, Viebrock had three, and Jake Kouba and Joseph Kouba each got one in the 21 races that were run. Viebrock topped a talented field of rookie competitors with Mike Walters, Jon Lewerer, Alex Peper, Mike Haseltine, Scott Brandt, Jori Hughes and Josh Hendrickson finishing behind “The New Richmond Nightmare” in the rookie standings.
The UMSS wishes to thank ALL of the drivers, car owners, crews, families, fans, sponsors and everyone who helped to make the 2014 season another success for both the winged sprints and the Traditional non-winged sprints. Look for additional post-season announcements on our website at www.umsprints.com or by following us on our Facebook page. The fourth UMSS Traditional sprint car season will kick off next spring, likely in early May at the St. Croix Valley Raceway, for all three divisions.
TSCS Race Results – St. Croix Valley Raceway September 5, 2014 (Race #21)
22nd Annual Earl Kouba Memorial (makeup from August 16 rain out)
Viking Paints Heat #1 (10 laps): 54 Cam Schafer, 21 Jimmy Kouba, 69S Jon Lewerer, 87 Mike Mueller, 55 Joseph Kouba, 23 Josh Hendrickson, 13K Katrina Sautbine DNF, 31 Adam Taubert DNF.
Trondson Engines Heat #2 (10 laps): 2K Jake Kouba, 78 Rob Caho Jr, 21J Jori Hughes, 50 Chase Viebrock, 1 Brian VanMeveren, 27 Mike Walters, 81 Dan Peper, 2 Tom Porter.
GRP Motorsports Earl Kouba Memorial Feature (25 laps): Viebrock, Mueller, Schafer, Jake Kouba, Caho, Jimmy Kouba, Walters, Hughes, VanMeveren, Joseph Kouba, Sautbine, Peper, Taubert, Lewerer DNF, Hendrickson DNF, Porter DNF.
Lap Leader: Viebrock 1-25
Cautions: (2)
Final Top 5 TSCS Season Points: Schafer, Caho, Mueller, Viebrock, Jake Kouba.
Victory Lane photo courtesy of Vince Peterson at Track Rat Photos.
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Mike Mueller Tops TSCS Portion of Kouba Memorial At Princeton Speedway
Princeton, MN
By: Greg Parent, UMSS Media Director (8-15-14)
Making their first-ever appearance at the Princeton Speedway on Friday night August 15, the UMSS Traditional Sprint Car Series produced a good field of cars and an entertaining 25 lap feature race for the large crowd on hand at the opening night of the 22nd Annual Kouba Memorial event. For the fourth time this season, Mike Mueller of Stacy found himself standing in Anderson’s Pure Maple Syrup Victory Lane at the end of the evening. Like most of his victories, Mueller’s march to the front came from a starting position a few rows back. Mueller started seventh and assumed the lead on lap 15 when race leader Kevin Bradwell spun sideways in turn one on a restart and collected a couple of cars in the process. Mueller had raced his way forward to second at the time and was able to hold off current TSCS point leader Cam Schafer for the $500 top prize over the remaining eleven laps.
A field of sixteen non-winged TSCS sprints signed into the pits on a pleasant summer evening for racing. Along with their winged counterparts, the Princeton Speedway pits had 33 sprint cars on hand. For the TSCS portion of the show, two 10-lap heat races were run using the normal passing and finishing point format. Heat wins went to Bradwell and Schafer. Rookie racer Chase Viebrock was high point driver following the heats and drew the four pill for the feature race invert. This put Jake Kouba and Cam Schafer on the front row.
Schafer shot into the early lead at the start of the Ethel Kouba Memorial feature race. Third starter and 2011 series champion Kevin Bradwell looked strong. Bradwell passed Schafer for the top spot on lap six and began to stretch his lead. The race ran 14 laps before the first caution blinked on for Josh Hendrickson who slipped over the berm in turn two. On the restart, Bradwell slid off the bottom and into the middle of the track in turn two. His car immediately spun around and collected Jake Kouba, Viebrock and Alex Peper, as the yellow light blinked on. Bradwell and Kouba were out, and it was Mike Mueller now in the lead. Mueller survived one more restart with 21 laps in the books when Hendrickson backed over the berm again in turn two. Moments earlier Cam Schafer had slipped over the berm but kept his car going. The caution was called on Hendrickson and Schafer got his second spot back. Mueller led the final four circuits for his fourth win of the season and fifth career TSCS triumph. Schafer, two-time champion Rob Caho Jr, Joseph Kouba and Jon Lewerer completed the top five. Rounding out the top ten finishers were Mike Walters, Jori Hughes, Jimmy Kouba, Viebrock and Anna Kouba driving Jeff Pellersels’ traditional sprint car.
The first night of the Kouba Memorial saw all four members of the Kouba racing family who are still active drivers participate in the Traditional sprint car part of the program. Anna Kouba was the only driver to do double-duty, as she also raced in the winged sprint car portion of the show. The second night of the 22nd Annual Kouba Memorial was scheduled to take place the following night at the St. Croix Valley Raceway, but persistent light rain showers finally caused the race to be postponed. Night #2 of the Kouba Memorial will now be held on Friday, September 5 at the St. Croix Valley Raceway with both divisions on the program. It will also mark the final race of the Traditional Sprint Car Series season, as the chase for the championship concludes. The feature will pay $500 to win on September 5 thanks to some added money from GRP Motorsports.
TSCS Race Results – Princeton Speedway August 15, 2014 (Race #20)
22nd Annual Kouba Memorial Night #1 – Ethel Kouba Memorial
JKD Communications Heat #1 (10 laps): 95 Kevin Bradwell, 50 Chase Viebrock, 55 Joseph Kouba, 69S Jon Lewerer, 87 Mike Mueller, 21J Jori hughes, 27 Mike Walters, 1 Anna Kouba.
Rice Creek Building & Remodeling Heat #2 (10 laps): 54 Cam Schafer, 2K Jake Kouba, 78 Rob Caho Jr, 81 Alex Peper, 23 Josh Hendrickson, 31 D. Taubert, 13K Katrina Sautbine DNF.
Ethel Kouba Memorial Feature (25 laps): Mueller, Schafer, Caho, Joseph Kouba, Lewerer, Walters, Hughes, Jimmy Kouba, Viebrock, Anna Kouba, Peper, Hendrickson DNF, Jake Kouba DNF, Bradwell DNF, Taubert DNF, Sautbine DNF.
Lap Leaders: Schafer 1-5, Bradwell 6-14, Mueller 15-25.
Cautions: (3)
Victory Lane photo courtesy of Vince Peterson at Track Rat Photos.
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